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Afrikaanse Inligting
Identifying the Marsh Rose - Orothamnus
The genus Orothamnus is distinct from all other genera in that the inflorescences are pendulous, and are surrounded by large, hairy, pink involucral bracts, which resemble the petals of a rose. The Marsh Rose is most closely allied to the Tube Pagodas, with the inflorescences of Orothamnus equivalent to the Mimetes pseudanthia. The major difference between Orothamnus and Mimetes is that the Marsh Rose has terminal flowerheads, not axillary as in the Pagodas. The stem then continues growing upwards from an axillary bud, in this fashion several flowerheads may be produced during the flowering season.
The genus is confined to the Kogelberg and Kleinmond mountains, with a single population near Hermanus. There is only one species in the genus.
Orothamnus
zeyheri MARSH ROSE BERGROOS
Involucral bracts oval, 20-40 mm long, 20-40 mm wide, hairy,
arranged in 4-5 whorls, rose red.
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